The FT-7 BGI fighter jet of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed due to a technical malfunction it faced immediately after taking off from BAF Base Bashar in Dhaka鈥檚 Kurmitola at 1:06pm on Monday, killing 20 people, including the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Towkir Islam, said an ISPR release.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam attempted to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas.
Despite his efforts, the aircraft crashed into a two-storey building of Milestone School and College in the Diabari area in Dhaka, causing significant casualties, the release said.
The accident also left 171 others injured.
The BAF has already formed a high-level investigation committee to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Emergency services, including the Bangladesh Air Force, Army, Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Fire Service, launched immediate rescue operations.
Helicopters and ambulances were deployed to transport the injured to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and other nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment.
The Bangladesh Air Force expressed profound sorrow over the incident and confirmed that all necessary measures are being taken to assist the victims and their families.
Senior military officials, including the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Administration), visited the crash site, as the Chief of Air Staff is currently on an official visit abroad.
Top-level government and military officials, including the Chief of Army Staff and the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, were also present to oversee rescue and relief efforts.